Wellesley Toyota - Environmentally Friendly

When somebody thinks of an automotive dealership like Wellesley Toyota, the words "environmentally friendly" are certainly not the first things that come to mind.

However, that is exactly what we are. As the first LEED Certified automotive dealership in New England, Wellesley Toyota is at the forefront of pushing the automotive industry, especially at the dealership level, to do business in a greener and more sustainable manner. LEED, which stands for "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design" and is a rating developed and certified by the U.S. Green Building Council, shows that we are serious about changing the way automotive dealerships affect our environment.

So you may ask, what exactly makes Wellesley Toyota a LEED Silver building? The following design and construction initiatives, split up into 6 categories, make our dealership eligible for LEED Silver certification, as outlined by the U.S. Green Building Council. We're really proud of our facility, and we hope you can come check it out soon!

This first category focuses on appropriate use of the building site that minimizes the impact on ecosystems and water resources.

The renovated building is located on an appropriate and previously developed site (no prime farmland or wetland)

The project is located in a community with a minimum density of 60,000 square feet per acre, thus promoting development in existing urban areas.

Encourages alternative transportation with the low-emission Prius and Prius Plug-in line of vehicles.

Implemented a storm water management plan that directs storm water runoff into below ground infiltrators for recharging into the water table.

Minimization of urban "heat islands", which occur when development replaces vegetation, by using highly reflective roof materials. This also maximizes efficiency in the warm parts of the year by reducing cooling loads, thereby lowering energy consumption for A/C.

The primary focus for this category is reducing the building's use of water.

Use of high efficiency low flush toilets and faucets resulting in a 30% reduction in water usage.

Landscaping uses plant species that require minimal watering and irrigation, reducing the use of water resources.

This is one of the most important categories and focuses on conserving and reducing energy use through more efficient procedures and mechanical/operating systems.

The new facility has a 30% larger footprint than the
old building, but is 40% more efficient. This is due to the Energy
Management System and energy efficient materials

Purchase of green energy from Wellesley Municipal Light and Power - Wellesley Toyota is the largest purchaser of renewable energy in Wellesley.

Recycling of automobile waste oil for heating during the winter months.

Use of highly reflective roof materials and additional roof insulation to reduce energy costs in the winter months.

Implementation of special smart Energy Management System to control the entire facility's HVAC systems and maximize efficiency. The system knows when the building will be empty (closed hours, holidays, etc.) and adjusts energy management accordingly.